Shirt guard



Aug. 16, 1932. c ELZEY 1,872,260

SHIRT GUARD Filed Oct. 24, 1931 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED-STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

cnannns I. ELZEY, or AL'rIMonnMAnYLANn SHIRT GUARD Application filed October 24, 1931. Serial No. 570,789.

In the launderingof collar attached shirt s a great deal of difliculty has been encountered in the attempt to preserve the laundered apperance of the shirt, during delivery and prior to wearing. To this end, various means have, been devised to support the collar, par-' ticularly the fold thereof, at the front where it joins the neck band, so as toprevent sagiging and wrinkling. It is, however, found almost equally necessary to the appearance of the shirt to keep the buttonhole band which extends from the collar down the front of the shirt smooth and straight.

Devices which have been e tensively soldas collar supports or guards in their operation have not proved satisfactory because of the fact that the support at the bottom bears on the buttonhole band at the front of the shirt causing the portion of thisband or binding beneath the collar button or top button to pucker and swell outwardly.

The portion ofv he buttonhole band or binding between the top or collar button and M "the second button is next to thecollanthe most conspicuous part ofthe shirt particua larly when the bow type of tie which is largely used in summer, is worn.

The object of the present lnvention is to produce a device which can be manufactured cheaply of paper or the like, whichis easily applied in preparing laundered shirts for delivery, and which serves to hold the buttonhole band in the flattened condition as laundered, preserving the appearance of this ,por

tion of the shirt through the period when it is packed and delivered and retained packed rior to wearing.

While the primary object of the invention is to provide means for protecting andv holding the button band flat under these conditions, the device may also include any su1t able means for supporting the fold of the collar on each side at the front in combinaw 1 tion with said means.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated a shirt guard adapted to protect the buttonhole band at the top, holding it in fiattened condition after laundering, the same being combined with a suitable collar sup port which may project into'the fold between the neckband and the collar, engaging, folded edge of the collar from within.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary ture of a plan ofthe shirt folded for delivery, the device of the invention being combined therewith substantially in its operative relation. a

view inthe na--" 37 Figure 2 is a view of the shirt guard sepa lar 2, which is foldedv downwardly from the edge of the neckband, forming the collar edge fold 3. v

The neckband and hence the collar, are

button a which in the form of the invention shown is passed through the top buttonhole 5, formed in the buttonhole band .6, or binding, .which is secured to the front flap 7 of the" shirt-extending down the edge ofthe same and containing all the buttonholes which co operate with the buttons to close the front of the shirt. The next button below thetop button which engages the buttonhole 8 in the buttonhole band 6 is indicated by reference character 9. The main object of the invention is to provide a device whereby the upper portion of i the buttonhole band, betweenthe top or collar button 4 and the next or second button 9 is guard'ed after'laundering and held in flat- '-tened condition While the shirt is packed for delivery andduring the period of delivery and the period during which the shirt 'is'retained inpacked condition prior to Wearing. I It will be understood that the device being "disclosed and-claimed may be applied to any length of band containing any number of 5 buttons; e v

In accordance with the preferred form of closed at the front by a top button or collar i end of the slot as notched at 18 after the man--.

the invention, applicants shirt guard or butand disclosed herewith an alternative device tonhole band guard consists of. a strip of paper board or other suitable material 10 having a slot 11 at or near the top which may be open at its upper end at 12 or otherwise devised to admit the shank or the threads or other device indicated by reference character 14, whereby the top or collarbutton 4: is secured to the shirt or the neckband opposite the buttonhole 5. The shirt guard orbuttonhole band and guard 10 is also slotted atits lower end at 15. This slot may be open at its lower end at 16 or otherwise devised to ad. mit within the slot the threads or shank or other means 17 whereby the button 9 is secured or connected to the shirt. It provides I 7 straightenthe'buttonhole band 6 which thrust a frictional engagement of the button shank or threads for applying tension to the band adapting the guard to various spacing of the buttons.

In Figures 1 and 2 I have shown the lower ner of the teeth of a saw as to both of its oppo-- site edges to engage the but-ton shank or threadsof the button 9, preventingv or resistingtheadvance of the shank or threads along.

the slot whereby the top button 1 1 being, engaged with the slot 11, said buttons 4 and 9, being secured to the shirt and in the buttoned condition of the shirtconnected to the buttonhole band 6 in spaced relation, there is a marked tendency to stretch, elongate and straighten the portion of the buttonhole band 6'between the buttons, studs or similar fastenings t and 9. g This is due to the resiliency or" stiffness of the guard 10 which is prefer ably of thin paper board or the like. It may be deflected or bowed while the slots are being engaged with the buttons, and is then flattened, applying tension to the band, ,es-- tablishing a satsfactorily stretched and flattened condition of the buttonhole band which under ordinary circumstances is retained une til for some reason, as the assumption of the shirt as wearing apparel, the guard is re-' opposite ends, the shirt guard 10 in Figure 1 is provided with a cross bar or head 19, 20, at its upper end extending on each side of the slot 11. The head is adapted to project into the collar fold as indicated in Figure 1, tending to holdthe shirt guard in position, and incidentally to prevent deflection and disfigurement of the front of the collar prior to wearing.

While the slot 15 with its saw toothed-edges 18 is quite effective in holding the shank or threads 17 which secure the button 9 in position to apply tension to the band 6 and prevent displacement of the same toward the inner end of the slot, applicant has devised edge of the slot 22, said notches being inclined upwardly toward slot 11 and toward thefcenter of the shank 24: of the guard 10 so that when a notch 25 is engaged with the thread or shank 17 'ofthe lower button 9, the downward thrust of the shank 24 tending to may be due tobending of the guard 10 before it is applied vto'theshirt, and its consequent tendency to straighten; instead of causing the button 9 or the thread or fastening means holding it in position, to move freely along the slot 22, causes it to advance into the corresponding notch 25 and when it reaches the end of said notch, the button guard 10 presents a positive resistance, the reaction of which tends to straighten V and flatten the buttonhole band 6 and to holdit flat throughout the period of packing and the period of delivery and the period during which the shirt is retained in neat, presentable, laundered condition prior to wearing. The fluted top of notches 25 provides for variation in spacing of the buttons as does likewis the frictional engagement at'15, Figure 1.

In the operation of Fig. 1 type of shirt or buttonhole band guard, it will be understood that theshirt having been ironed and being as a rule still soft and slightly warm and limp, the guard. 10 is first engaged with the top button or collar button 4 or the shank or threads holding the same in position, by means of the slot 11 at the top, after which the guard 10 is preferably bowed at its central portion and engaged at its lower end by means of the slot 15 or 22 with the next lower or any lower button 9 or threads or shank holding the same to the shirt. The tendency of the guard to straighten out either due to its own elasticity or due to manual pressure,

has the efiect of flattening it whereby the member 10 is elongated, forcing the buttons 9 and 4 apart, stretching and flattening the buttonhole band 6, holding it flat while the shirt is packed and delivered until it is to be worn, preserving the. laundered appearance as if the shirt were just ironed. The head 19,20 supports the collar fold at the front.

The construction, Figure 2, is without the crosshead19, 20, and has the lower slot 15, closed at the bottom to admit the shirt button, the slot is provided withan enlargement or opening at 25 shown as located at the upper end of the slot. The remainder of the slot 15' is notched or otherwise provided with means to retard or resist the motion of the button 9 relatively to the shank 10 of the guard. The upper end of the guard is preferably slotted as in the previous instance at 12, and the top or end edge 26 may be straight, i. e., at right angles to the length, or otherwise conveniently formed.

To apply this shirt guard, the button 9 is first passed through the opening or enlargement 25, after which the shirt uard is moved upwardly, the shank or threads, holding the button, moving along the slot 15 between the notches 18 which hold and serve to resist its advance in either direction. The upward motion of the guard is continued until the upper end 26 supports the fold 3 of the collar, the upper or collar button entering the slot 11.

No Xtra width of the guard at the top is essential to support the fold of the collar at the front and the support of the collar fold and straightening and flattening of the buttonhole band in the manner described are suflicient to preserve the laundered condition of the front of the shirt and cause it to present a pleasing appearance after an indefinite period during which it may have remained packed.

I have thus described specifically and in detail a shirt guard particularly adapted to protect and retain the position of the buttonhole band at the top between the collar button and the upper button or any other button on the buttonhole band, the description being specific and in detail in order that the manner of constructing, applying, operating and using the invention may be fully understood, however, the specific terms herein are used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shirt guard adapted to retain the laundered appearance of the shirt, the same consisting of a band of sheet material having a slot spaced downwardly from the top to engage a front button of the shirt below the collar, said slot having an enlarged portion to permit a button to be passed therethrough whereby it enters the slot whereupon the guard may be thrust upwardly into the collar fold, the slot having means to engage the button threads or shank to apply tension to and flatten the buttonhole band holding it flat and straight in the laundered condition of the shirt.

2. A shirt guard adapted to retain the laundered appearance of the shirt, the same consisting of a band of sheet material having a slot spaced downwardly from the top to engage a front button of the shirt below the collar, said slot having an enlarged portion to permit a button to be passed therethrough whereby it enters the slot whereupon the guard may be trust upwardly into the collar 1 fold, the slot having means to engage the but-' ton threads or shank in a series of positions a slot at the top to engage the collar button and a notch spaced downwardly therefrom to engage a lower button, the latter notch having serrated edges to engage the button threads or shank whereby said memberis adapted to hold the buttons apart and apply tension to and flatten the buttonhole band which supports the said buttons holding it flatand straight'in the laundered condition of the shirt, and means adapting the guard to variations in spacings of the buttons.

4. A shirt guard adapted to retain the laundered appearance of the shirt, the same consisting of a strip of sheetmaterial having a notch at the top to engage the collar button and a slot spaced downwardly therefrom to engage a lower button, said member being adapted to hold the buttons apart and apply tension to and flatten the buttonhole band which supports the said buttons holding it.

flat and straight in the laundered condition of the shirt, and means in the nature of notches formed in the edges of the slot to engage the button shank or fastening means adapting the guard to variations in spacings of the buttons, and means for centering and supporting the collar fold at the front.

5. A shirt guard adapted to protect and retain the buttonhole band of a collar shirt in its flat and presentable appearance after laundering, the same consisting of a band of sheet material having a notch at the top to receive the shank or fastening means of the top button and a slot spaced downwardly therefrom to receive the shank or fastening threads of a lower button, and having means for holding the buttons spaced apart applying tension to the band.

6. A shirt guard adapted to protect and retain the buttonhole band of a collar shirt in its flat and presentable appearance after laundering, the same consisting of a band of relatively flexible material having a notch at the top to receive the shank or fastening means of the top button and a slot at the bottom to receive the shank or flattening material of a lower button, the guard being adapted to be bowed to engage the buttons and straightened to flatten the band, and means in the form of recesses in the edges of the slot and spaced along the slot, said recesses being adapted to receive the button shank or thread for adapting the guard to variations in the spacing of the buttons.

7 A shirt guard adapted to protect and retain the buttonhole band of a collar shirt in its flat andv presentable. appearance after laundering, the same consisting of a'band of relatively flexible material having a slot at 5 the top to receive the shank or fastening H means of the top button, and a slot at the bottom to receive the shank or fastening means of a lower button, the slots being spaced by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the buttons, the bottom slot having means in the form of notched edges for retaining the button shank or thread at various positions spaced along the length of the slot whereby the guard when bowed to engage 3 the buttons, in straightening flattens the band.

Signed by me at Baltimore, Maryland, this 19th day of October, 1931. 7

CHARLES I. ELZEY. 

